A Reprieve!!



I've been to see the orthopaedic specialist and "whey hey" seems like some good news. I thought I was definetly in for the surgery after my Mum came off the phone talking to the specialist, and so did Mum. I had an assessment which included more x-rays and manipulation, he also checked my shoulders (all fine), all under a general anaesthetic - Ouch!

He was very pleased with the outcome of my x-rays. My Mum & Dad have been very careful with me since my pectinectomy operation, only having short walks and long rests. Plus, I have been on supplements. The vet said that my x-rays show that my condition is starting to improve, the socket that the joint goes into (or doesn't in my case) has started to shape and grow. He has advised holding off on any surgery for now, keep up with the supplements, keep on going on short walks only, plenty of rest throughout the day and swimming - I have to swim for 30 minutes everyday for six months or have hydrotherapy to strengthen my muscles so that when the ball of the joint fits into the socket, the muscles will help to push them in and support the joints - Something like that anyway!

I will be assessed again in 6 months and the vet thinks there will be even  bigger improvements. I may still need a hip replacement in a few years when I'm fully grown, but nothing now. OMG I can't believe my luck. What a close shave!

Mum bawled, I slid across the floor (as usual), everyone was sooooo pleased. Mum is looking at buying me a hot tub for swimming if we can find one deep enough. I love water but not looking forward to the cold weather, hence the hot tub lol. So, there you have it. A reprieve for Casper Bear, Mums' Chocolate Pudding (yuck)!

Lotsa Licks

Don't Forget My Give-A-Way



Don't forget my Give-A-Way on October 31st

Click the photo below for link

Come on GUYS!

 By the way it's a pink toy for a girl and a blue toy if the winner is a boy!

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Poppy

I was out on my morning walk this morning and we bumped into my friend "Poppy" a golden labrador. She goes on the same walks as me so I bump into her often. She is a special friend. I found out today that Poppy also has "hip dysplasia" but only on one side. She has been to the same specialist as me and is waiting for surgery. She is 13 months old.

Poor Poppy! I wish her well.

Lots of Licks

Surgery Pending



The appointment has come through for my assessment with the orthopaedic surgeon. Friday 8^th October at 8.30am. I have to be examined and assessed to see which surgery is best for my hip dysplasia. The vet will decide whether I should wait to have a complete hip replacement (which cannot be done until I am fully matured), or a Triple Pelvic Osteotomy a procedure effective for younger canines, like myself, the pelvic bones are surgically broken down so that certain parts can be realigned accordingly.

My Mum has been told not to feed me after 8pm the night before as the surgeon may decide to operate the same day – dependant on my assessment. I will be glad when it has all been done and I can get back out playing with my friends again. OMG I'm not looking forward to no breakfast on Friday!!

MUM SAYS: "That's typical  of  Casper, all he thinks of is his belly lol"

Me With My Ball

We went up to our caravan on the weekend and I had great fun romping and playing on our pitch. I don’t suppose we’ll be doing that for a while now so I made the most of it. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!

"Sitting On The Grass"

I heard Mum telling Dad that the grass needs mowing. I just thought they were growing cabbages lol.

"Just having a rest"

See you all soon!!

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Teething!!



TEETHING!! I have nearly finished teething THANKFULLY, What a painful couple of months! My adult molars are coming in as I’m going on for 7 months now, I must say I have a lovely set of pure white gnashers. Mum cleans them for me daily with dentifresh toothpaste for puppies and kittens. Tastes all meaty and has added calcium and I just love to try and eat it when Mum’s not looking. Mind you I eat most things while she’s not looking.

I have my own special toothbrush, specially shaped for my teeth too. COOL!!

You know how I LOVE my toys, well, I’ve been a bit naughty with them just lately and been trying to eat them, and Megans’ ( I destroyed loads of her SOFTIE toys while Mum was out! An ACCIDENT of course, or at least that’s the story I’m sticking too). Soooo my softie ones are GONE but not forgotten. I can only have the toys that I can’t eat to play with now Mum says. BORING!!

Mum’s trying to get a pic of my gnashers to show you but I’m being a bit awkward so perhaps later.

Mum says this is the best she could get for now! No idea why!!!

Loads & Loads of Licks

My Favourite Walks



Some of my favourite places Mum & Dad take me for my walks. I have to have them a bit shorter at the moment but as soon as my hip is better I'll be back with the best of them,so at the moment I'm only going as far as the top field

The Beach

"Millwod"

The country park is just at the bottom of the road where I live and the sea is only about 20 minutes to walk too through the country park. This is where I meet most of my friends. I haven't seen them for about two weeks cos Mum is keeping me wrapped in cotton wool at the moment so I haven't any recent photos of me bounding around having fun, but below are a few taken in the country park in July. As you can see from the picture in the previous post, I'm a fair bit bigger now.

In the top field in July

Playing with "Tess" in July my Rottweiller pal she's 9 months old (7 in the pic)

She's GORGEOUS!!

Catch ya later!!

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Bad Hip Day

Photo of me taken a week after my operation which I had on 13th September (20th September). I had quite a bad day with my hip today but Mum gave me some painkiller medicine. The vet said I will have good and some bad days now and again until my hip is sorted out. I have been reffered to an ortheopaedic veterinary expert in Bristol  where Mum is going to make an appointment for me to be assessed to see what is the best way forward for my hip dysplasia. Surgery is going to be a definite, just depends which is the  best procedure for me. I will keep my blog updated with news of my condition, also see my Hip Dysplasia page above so that you can understand what my condition is.

Wish me luck guys!!

Licks



Show Your Tongue: National Dog Week



Twinkie is having a giveaway contest to celebrate National Dog Week.

 Show Your Tongue Photo

This is my photo entry.

Wish me luck!!

Lots of Licks

P.S. Don't Forget To Enter My Give-A-Way Below

Casper' First Blog Give-A-Way



Showing some of my favourite toys yesterday got me thinking!! Not that I do much of that, too busy playing, eating and sleeping....
To celebrate the setting up of my blog "Casper Bear, Life of a Chocolate Labrador", I am having a Blog Give-A-Way Of a Fantastic Doggy Toy.

The Puppy Twister Plush Squeaky Dog Toy by Paws and Play is a fun and funky puppy toy that your sure to love.

This quirky puppy toy is made from a plush head, body and feet with durable rope for arms and legs; making them great for games, chewing and cuddles. (I have one, well actually it's Megans' but I play with it most, but like most of my toys - it's a bit grubby to say the least!) The one I am giving away is Brand New by the way, I haven't got a bit of slobber on it, honest!
A pink one for a girl or a blue one for a boy.

Size: 22 x 7 x 6cm.

They're great fun, so join in my blog give-a-way.

All you have to do to enter is become a follower, leave a comment with your email in case you should win, add my giveaway to your blog if you have one with a link to mine (collect my giveaway button in the sidebar). SIMPLES!!

Give-A-Way ends on October 31st - "Halloween" so there's plenty of time for you all to find my blog - I hopes!

Catch you all later!

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My Favourite Toys



If you're not a softie, you're a toughie! And toughie dogs need tough, safe toys to play with.

Here are a few of my favourite toys.
 Mine look a bit grubbier now, well, a fair bit, a lot more grubbier I mean.

My Soft Plush Baby Dragon

My Kong. I love getting my treats, keeps me quiet for ages.

Mum  has got me this lovely plush  squeaky pumpkin for Halloween'. She doesn't know I found it in the cupboard hee hee! Wonder what's for Christmas?

Nice or  what! Actually I'm not sure... Looks a bit scary to me on second thoughts.

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"It never rains but it pours!" How true that saying is. Mum & Dad  are just getting over my  little  Yorkshire Terrier sister Megan having had surgery - a hysterectomy - when this morning my vet diagnosed me with "Hip Dysplasia"! Apparently my hips are in a very bad way. I had to have  surgery on the tendons to assist with the problem called a "pectinectomy".

I was playing in the top field yesterday with a few of my friends who are also chocolate labradors and I came back full of beans and as happy as could be. A little later however Mum says I started to act strangely, as if I was in pain, spent the rest of the day in my bed, which is not like me at all. Last night when we went to bed I spent most of the night whining as if I was in discomfort Mum said, so they sat with me and comforted me untill I fell asleep, Mum watched me all night, and then off we went to the vets this morning and we  were astounded at the outcome. They thought I had a bad belly or something, but no! It is hip dysplasia.

The vet talked to us about my diet, exercise, long term problems etc to try and prevent this condition getting any worse. Long-term, its possible that I  may have to have a hip replacement when I am fully matured and grown.

Like everything in life, we will have to take things day by day Mum says and simply just do whatever is necessary to make sure irt doesn't get any worse. Hopefully this condition will not worsten with a proper diet, excercise and I suppose it's best to know about this as early as possible as it gives us a chance to make sure I don't put on weight etc. Mum & Dad are planning to sell our house and buy a bungalow in the very near future so that will ensure that I don't have any stairs to climb as I get older. 

My x-rays have gone off to the veterinary orthopaedic hospital in Bristol for the experts to have a look at and decide what, if anything will happen in the future. My vets hopes that with the supplements that I am having, the problem will get better as I develop and grow. The operation I had on my tendons has worked as the movement in my hip is now much better, so, looking good so far.

 The only consellation is that "it could be worse" I suppose!

I will keep you informed on my condition.

UPDATE:

I am completely recovered from my pectinectomy operation and I was neutered at the same time - Double Trouble, OUCH!! I am now running around as if nothing has happened and I feel great. Plus, I'm getting lots more pampering too lol

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I am  now 19 weeks old and just growing and growing and growing!
Just for a bit of fun!
Mum says I always look like I have plenty to say in my photographs. That I am a very vocal dog and  like to be heard. Ignore me? Not possible lol! Just a few of the things I was thinking, just for fun!

“Oh no, I’ve been rumbled digging up the lawn again! That’s no jumbone for me! My Mum is a pushover though hee hee! Watch this!! A lovely, cute, toothy little smile and here I go”

"Hi there Mam! What you got for me? Jumbone maybe? I see that cat's been digging up the lawn again. I did try to chase him off for you but he spat and hissed at me and I was a biiit late! Sooorry!! Awhh, thanks Mum, a Jumbone, yay!! There's a sucker born every day! Munch, munch"

Digging up the lawn, at the caravan, is one of my favourite past-times. What was once a lovely lawn now looks like a cow field apparently lol. What the heck though, it's only grass she cries, it will grow back, we hope! And if it doesn't, well, we'll still have "Our Boy" that's the main thing. Awhh, I actually felt a pang of guilt!

Mum heard my Big Boy Bark for the first time the other day. She was in the caravan and I was on my peg (for safety) playing with my toys as usual. The people in the caravan behind were in their garden and ignoring my attempt to draw their attention. "Ignore me will you?" I thought, and with that out came the biggest bark I've ever heard. I sounded like a cross between a bloodhound and a wolfhound. Mum ran out of the caravan thinking a huge dog had got into the garden and was attacking me! No, it was little Mr Innocent himself, trying to draw their attention. Did I succeed? What do you think? I even managed to get a treat lol. Wonder when they'll be back again?

"Mmmmm, is that a plane or is it SuperDog? Oh no, it's just Dad with his pants on over his tights again Lol. Now that will mean no Jumbone for me. Sorry Dad!"

“Awhh, I did say SORRY Dad; no need for the hat is there! I have a reputation to uphold you know! What will the guys down the pond think if they see me? What do I have to do Dad, grovel? Mum, heeelpp, get this hat off me, pleeeease!!”

“Job done, hee hee!! Awhh, thanks for the jumbone Mum, yah!! Is she a sucker or what!!”

I love to go for my walks down Pen-Y-Fan Pond when we are staying at the caravan and  love to go in the pond for a paddle. I'm Mums' little “Water Dog!” I came out with a fish the other day, oh my gosh, they nearly died! Mum adores animals of all kinds as you probably know. It was obviously already dead but that is not the point she said. They had a terrible time getting it from me it was my PRIZE as far as I was concerned. There were four of them dancing around trying to get this fish out of my mouth, me holding firm, dancing and prancing around like the cat who had gotten the cream. What Fun!! You can imagine the scene! Eventually they gained possession of my prize and put it back in the water. Poor fish! I stunk of fish for a few days and so did Tom, who ended up with some of it on his sleeve, yuk! They now call me “Casper Fishwick” lol! Cheek!!

I am such a waterdog that I even love the rain! We’ve certainly had enough the last few days. I love to dance in the puddles and jumps about under drips from roofs etc, run through the long wet grass and come out like a drowned rat, but I love it. There’s no stopping me in the rain. I'm a right drip lol!

More soon

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